Farm-level risk factors and treatment protocols for lameness in New Zealand dairy cattle.

AIMS: To identify farm-level risk factors for dairy cow lameness, and to describe lameness treatment protocols used on New Zealand dairy farms. METHODS: One hundred and nineteen farms from eight veterinary clinics within the major dairying regions of New Zealand were randomly enrolled into a cross-sectional lameness prevalence study. Each farmer completed a questionnaire on lameness risk factors and lameness treatment and management. Trained observers lameness scored cattle on two occasions, between October-December (spring, coinciding with peak lactation for most farms) and between January-March (summer, late lactation for most farms). A four-point (0-3) scoring system was used to assess lameness, with animals with a lameness score (LS) ≥2 defined as lame. At each visit, all lactating animals were scored including animals that had previously been identified lame by the farmer. Associations between the farmer-reported risk factors and lameness were determined using mixed logistic regression models in a Bayesian framework, with farm and score event as random effects. RESULTS: A lameness prevalence of 3.5% (2,113/59,631) was reported at the first LS event, and 3.3% (1,861/55,929) at the second LS event. There was a median prevalence of 2.8% (min 0, max 17.0%) from the 119 farms. Most farmers (90/117; 77%) relied on informal identification by farm staff to identify lame animals. On 65% (75/116) of farms, there was no external provider of lame cow treatments, with the farmer carrying out all lame cow treatments. Most farmers had no formal training (69/112; 62%). Animals from farms that used concrete stand-off pads during periods of inclement weather had 1.45 times the odds of lameness compared to animals on farms that did not use concrete stand-off pads (95% equal-tailed credible interval 1.07-1.88). Animals from farms that reported peak lameness incidence from January to June or all year-round, had 0.64 times odds of lameness compared to animals from farms that reported peak lameness incidence from July to December (95% equal-tailed credible interval 0.47-0.88). CONCLUSIONS: Lameness prevalence was low amongst the enrolled farms. Use of concrete stand-off pads and timing of peak lameness incidence were associated with odds of lameness. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Veterinarians should be encouraging farmers to have formal lameness identification protocols and lameness management plans in place. There is ample opportunity to provide training to farmers for lame cow treatment. Management of cows on stand-off pads should consider the likely impact on lameness.

Lameness recovery rates following treatment of dairy cattle with claw horn lameness in the Waikato region of New Zealand.

AIMS: To describe the time in days for lame dairy cows to recover after diagnosis and treatment of claw horn lameness, and to investigate whether cure rates differed between farms. METHODS: Five dairy farms in the Waikato region were conveniently enrolled into a descriptive epidemiological study. Three of these farms had dairy cattle enrolled over two consecutive seasons, while two farms enrolled for one year. Lame cattle diagnosed by the farmers were enrolled into the study if they had a lameness score (LS ≥ 2 on a 0-3 scale) and claw horn lesions. All enrolled animals were treated by a single veterinarian following a consistent methodology, and subsequently assessed for LS at a median frequency of 4 days from enrolment until they were sound (LS = 0). The times (days) taken for animals to become sound and non-lame (LS < 2) were reported for all animals, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves used to present the results. A Cox-proportional hazard model was used to assess if the hazard of soundness was associated with farm, age, breed, lesion, number of limbs involved, and LS at enrolment. RESULTS: A total of 241 lame cattle with claw horn lesions were enrolled across the five farms. White line disease was the predominant pain-causing lesion in 225 (93%) animals, and blocks were applied to 205 (85%) of enrolled animals. The overall median days from enrolment to becoming sound was 18 (95% CI = 14-21) days, and 7 (95% CI = 7-8) days to become non-lame. A difference in the hazards of lameness cure between farms was identified (p = 0.007), with median days to lameness cure between farms ranging from 11 to 21 days. No associations were identified between age, breed, limb, or LS at enrolment on the lameness cure rates. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of claw horn lameness following industry-standard guidelines in dairy cattle on five New Zealand dairy farms resulted in rapid cure, although cure rates differed between farms. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Following industry best-practice lameness treatment guidelines, including frequent use of blocks, can result in rapid lameness cure rates in New Zealand dairy cows. This study also suggests that management of lame cattle on pasture can positively benefit their welfare and recovery times. The reported cure rates provide veterinarians with benchmarks on the length of time after which a lame animal should be re-examined, and in the investigation of poor treatment response rates at the herd level.

Persistence of orthopaedic hoof blocks for the treatment of lame cattle kept permanently at pasture.

AIMS: To compare the retention by New Zealand dairy cows kept at pasture in a lame cow group, of three hoof block products commonly used in the remediation of lameness. METHODS: Sixty-seven farmer-presented Friesian and Friesian x Jersey dairy cows from a single herd in the Manawatu region (New Zealand) suffering from unilateral hind limb lameness attributable to a claw horn lesion (CHL) were randomly allocated to one of three treatments: foam block (FB), plastic shoe (PS) and a standard wooden block (WB). Blocks were applied to the contralateral healthy claw and checked daily by the farm staff (present/not present) and date of loss was recorded. Blocks were reassessed on Day 14 and Day 28 and then removed unless further elevation was indicated. Daily walking distances were calculated using a farm map and measurement software. Statistical analyses included a linear marginal model for distance walked until block loss and a Cox regression model for the relative hazard of a block being lost. RESULTS: Random allocation meant that differences between products in proportion used on left or right hind foot or lateral or medial claw were small. Mean distance walked/cow/day on farm tracks whilst the block was present was 0.32 (min 0.12, max 0.45) km/day; no biologically important difference between products in the mean distance walked was identified. Compared to PS, cows in the WB group were five times more likely to lose the block (HR = 4.8 (95% CI = 1.8-12.4)), while cows in the FB group were 9.5 times more likely to lose the block (HR = 9.5 (95% CI = 3.6-24.4)). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, PS were retained for much longer than either FB or WB. As cows were managed in a lame cow group for the study duration, walking distances were low and did not impact on the risk of block loss. More data are needed to define ideal block retention time. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In cows with CHL the choice of block could be based on the type of lesion present and the expected re-epithelisation times.

Dairy farmer, hoof trimmer, and veterinarian perceptions of barriers and roles in lameness management.

Lameness is a leading animal welfare concern in the dairy industry. Multiple stakeholders are involved in lameness management on a dairy farm, including farmers, hoof trimmers, and veterinarians. This study sought to explore perceptions of lameness, perceptions of roles in lameness management, and barriers to improved lameness management in these groups. Fourteen homogeneous focus groups were held in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York from April 2017 to March 2020; 5 with farmers (n = 31), 4 with hoof trimmers (n = 32), and 5 with veterinarians (n = 25). The 1-h facilitated discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and common themes identified through thematic analysis. Lameness was perceived by participants as a complex health problem and one in which the connections between pathogenesis, facilities, and management were not always well understood or easy to change. The complexity of the problem encompassed the lack of agreement on a definition of lameness, normalization to its signs, and the interconnectedness of lameness with other health and management issues. These issues appeared to contribute to resignation by participants that lameness was inevitable. Despite shared concerns about lameness among these groups, respondents reported a lack of communication, especially between hoof trimmers and veterinarians. Participants also voiced a desire to work together more productively, with hoof trimmers and veterinarians valuing the ability to deliver a consistent message to farmers. These findings suggest a need for increased efforts to facilitate collaboration between farmers, hoof trimmers, and veterinarians to improve lameness management on dairy farms.

Short communication: Claw block application improves locomotion and weight-bearing characteristics in cattle with foot diseases.

In cattle with foot diseases, application of a block on the healthy partner claw is a common method of pain relief. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of wooden claw blocks on locomotion characteristics and weight distribution in healthy (group C; n = 17) versus lame (group L; n = 17) cattle. Group L was further subdivided into group L1 (lameness score ≤3; n = 7) and group L2 (lameness score >3; n = 10). We performed lameness scoring using a numeric rating system and measured locomotion characteristics using 2 accelerometers (400 Hz; kinematic outcome = stance phase duration; kinetic outcomes = foot load and toe-off) and a 4-scale weighing platform (difference of mean weight distribution across the limbs; ∆weight) before and after application of a claw block. We applied claw blocks to a randomly assigned lateral or medial claw of the fore or hindlimb in group C cows, and on the healthy partner claw in group L cows. Variables were expressed as differences across limbs. We used 1-way ANOVA to determine the differences between groups C and L and between groups L1 and L2 for ∆weight after application of the claw block. We performed paired t tests to compare variables before and after application of the claw block in groups C and L. Group L scored higher on the numeric rating system than group C (mean ± SD, 3.40 ± 0.62 vs. 1.87 ± 0.28) and showed greater differences in relative stance phase duration (16.34 ± 10.78% vs. 2.13 ± 1.94%), foot load (9.68 ± 8.06 g vs. 3.26 ± 3.69 g), toe-off (3.91 ± 3.14 g vs. 0.78 ± 0.66 g), and ∆weight (53.62 ± 28.85% vs. 8.52 ± 6.19%). In group C, we observed an increase of 12.17 percentage points in ∆weight after block application, from 8.52 ± 6.19% to 20.69 ± 17.01%. Compared with the baseline, group L showed a decrease in numeric rating system score (2.88 ± 0.49 vs. 3.40 ± 0.62) and a decrease in differences between the limbs in relative stance phase duration (7.66 ± 9.96% vs. 16.34 ± 10.78%) and foot load (4.26 ± 4.14 g vs. 9.68 ± 8.06 g) after application of a claw block. Group L2 showed smaller ∆weight after application of a claw block than group L1 (-7.8 ± 8.7% vs. 10.4 ± 7.6%). After block application in group L, we observed smaller differences across the limbs in variables measured to describe gait-cycle characteristics while walking, but no significant improvement while standing. We concluded that application of a claw block must be combined with other methods of pain relief, such as analgesic medication.

Cryotherapy provides transient analgesia in an induced lameness model in horses.

The analgesic effect of cryotherapy in an induced lameness model was evaluated. Lameness was induced with solar pressure from a custom-made shoe in a 10-horse, cross-over study. The degree of lameness was recorded with a commercial non-invasive inertial sensor. The distal limbs were maintained in an ice and water slurry (cryotherapy) or at ambient temperature (control) for 1 hour. Lameness was assessed serially over the following hour. Lameness at each time point was compared to the baseline induced lameness, within and between groups. Lameness had improved significantly in all horses 5 minutes after treatment but remained improved 10 minutes after treatment for the cryotherapy group only. Fifteen minutes after treatment, lameness in the cryotherapy group was improved relative to the control. Cryotherapy produced moderate, transient analgesia. Additional research is required to determine if altering the method, duration, or temperature of cryotherapy, as well as the targeted pathology and anatomy, alters the analgesic effect.

La cryothérapie fournit une analgésie transitoire dans un modèle de boiterie induite chez le cheval. L'effet analgésique de la cryothérapie dans un modèle de boiterie induite a été évalué. La boiterie a été induite par une pression sur la sole à l'aide d'un fer sur mesure dans une étude croisée de 10 chevaux. Le degré de boiterie a été enregistré avec un capteur inertiel non invasif du commerce. Les membres distaux ont été maintenus dans une bouillie de glace et d'eau (cryothérapie) ou à température ambiante (témoin) pendant 1 heure. La boiterie a été évaluée en série au cours de l'heure suivante. La boiterie à chaque moment a été comparée à la boiterie induite au départ, au sein et entre les groupes. La boiterie s'était améliorée de manière significative chez tous les chevaux 5 minutes après le traitement mais restait améliorée 10 minutes après le traitement pour le groupe cryothérapie uniquement. Quinze minutes après le traitement, la boiterie dans le groupe cryothérapie était améliorée par rapport au témoin. La cryothérapie a produit une analgésie modérée et transitoire. Des recherches supplémentaires sont nécessaires pour déterminer si la modification de la méthode, de la durée ou de la température de la cryothérapie, ainsi que la pathologie et l'anatomie ciblées, modifient l'effet analgésique.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Review of guidelines for functional claw trimming and therapeutic approach to claw horn lesions in cattle.

Lameness is one of the most pressing health and welfare problems in cattle, especially on dairy farms. The most common cause of lameness is claw pathology, often due to lack of appropriate functional claw trimming. Functional claw trimming restores the physiological shape of the claws and distributes weight properly between the claws and over the claw weight-bearing surface. It also allows closer examination of the claws for early signs of pathology. The methods of functional claw trimming described in the previous century are still applicable today, considering some recent findings on the subject. It is essential not to over-trim the claws and to maintain strict hygiene of the trimming tools. Claw horn pathology in the early stages is usually treated effectively by therapeutic claw trimming alone. The stoic nature of cattle and their natural tendency to hide pain often result in delayed treatment of claw diseases, leading to more advanced stages of disease/pathology associated with higher-grade lameness. This situation often leads to the development of neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia requiring multimodal treatment. Because claw horn diseases are multifactorial, veterinarians and others involved in animal management must be familiar with the preventive measures available to improve claw health in a cattle herd. Further research to improve claw horn quality and effectively control/prevent claw infections without polluting the environment or negatively affecting worker and animal health is still needed. This article reviews the latest knowledge on functional claw trimming and treatment of the most common claw horn diseases in cattle.

Evaluation of acupuncture for the treatment of pain associated with naturally-occurring osteoarthritis in dogs: a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been used as a treatment for pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) for thousands of years; however, there is a lack of definitive evidence for this indication in humans or animals. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on lameness and clinical function in dogs affected by naturally-occurring OA using objective outcome measures. A total of 32 client-owned dogs completed this prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded clinical trial, using a cross-over design. Participants were assigned to receive placebo or acupuncture treatment once weekly for 4 weeks in random order with a two-week wash-out period in between treatment phases. Outcome measures included ground reaction forces (GRF), subjective orthopedic scoring (SOS), activity counts (AC), and owner-completed clinical metrology instruments (CMI; Canine Brief Pain Inventory [CBPI] and Client Specific Outcome Measures [CSOM]). For statistical comparison, baseline GRF, SOS, and CMI data were compared to data obtained 1 week after each treatment phase. Similarly, total weekly AC of the final week of each treatment phase were compared to the baseline week. RESULTS: Evidence of differences between baseline versus acupuncture and placebo treatments was not identified for the following outcome measures: GRF, AC, or SOS. However, evidence of differences was identified for some of the CMI scores, including the CSOM questionnaire which showed evidence of improvement when comparing baseline versus acupuncture (p = 0.0002) as well as between placebo versus acupuncture treatments (p = 0.035) but not between baseline versus placebo treatments (p = 0.221). CONCLUSIONS: The applied acupuncture protocol did not show improvement in function when using objective outcome measures for OA in dogs; however, certain CMI measurements recorded some degree of treatment response.

Effect of heel elevation on breakover phase in horses with laminitis.

BACKGROUND: In a laminitic horse, the maximal loading of the toe region occurs during the breakover phase. To date, no kinetic data demonstrates the effect of supportive orthopaedic therapy in horses with laminitis on breakover phase. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of heel elevation on the breakover phase. Eight horses with acute laminitis treated medically as well as with application of a hoof cast with heel wedge (HCHW) were included in this study. Immediately following cessation of clinical signs of acute laminitis, two measurements using the Hoof™ System were taken: the first with HCHW and the second immediately following removal of the HCHW, i.e. in barefoot condition (BFC). The hoof print was divided into three regions: toe, middle hoof, and heel. Kinetic parameters included vertical force (VF), stance duration, contact area (CA) for all hoof regions during stance phase, duration of breakover, VF in the toe region at onset of breakover and location of centre of force. RESULTS: The VF and CA were higher in the heel region (63 and 61%, respectively) and decreased significantly after removal of the HCHW (43 and 28% after removal, respectively). The breakover phase in horses with HCHW lasted 2% of stance phase and was significantly shorter than that in BFC, which lasted 6% of stance phase. The VF at onset of breakover for the toe region in horses with HCHW was significantly lower than that in BFC. The centre of the force was located at the heel region in all horses with the HCHW, and at the middle the hoof region in BFC. CONCLUSIONS: Heel elevation in horses with laminitis as examined on a concrete surface significantly shortens breakover phase and decreases the vertical force in the toe region during breakover. HCHW provides adequate support to the palmar hoof structures by increasing the contact area in the heel region and incorporating the palmar part of frog and sole into weight bearing, thus decreasing the stress on the lamellae. Hoof cast with heel elevation could be a beneficial orthopaedic supportive therapy for horses suffering from acute laminitis.

Is clinical effect of autologous conditioned serum in spontaneously occurring equine articular lameness related to ACS cytokine profile?

BACKGROUND: Biologic' therapies, such as autologous conditioned serum (ACS), are gaining popularity in treating orthopaedic conditions in equine veterinary medicine. Evidence is scarce regarding ACS constituents, and large inter-individual differences in cytokine and growth factor content have been demonstrated. The objective of the current study was to investigate the potential association between cytokine and growth factor content of ACS and clinical effect in harness racehorses with spontaneously occurring low-grade articular lameness. Horses received 3 intra-articular injections of ACS administered at approximately 2-week intervals. Lameness evaluation consisting of a trot-up with subsequent flexions tests was performed at inclusion and approximately 2 weeks after the last treatment (re-evaluation); horses were classified as responders when there was no detectable lameness on trot-up and a minimum of 50% reduction in flexion test scores at re-evaluation. Association between clinical outcome (responders vs. non-responders) and age, lameness grades at inclusion (both initial trot-up and after flexion tests), treatment interval, follow-up time and the ACS content of IL-1Ra, IGF-1 and TGF-ß was determined by regression modelling. RESULTS: Outcome analysis was available for 19 of 20 included horses; 11 responded to treatment whereas 8 did not. There was considerable inter-individual variability in cytokine/growth factor content of ACS, and in the majority of the horses, the level of IL-10, IL-1ß and TNF-α was below the detection limit. In the final multivariate logistic regression model, ACS content of IGF-1 and IL-1Ra was significantly associated with clinical response (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). No association with clinical response was found for the other tested variables. CONCLUSIONS: The therapeutic benefit of ACS may be related to higher levels of IL-1Ra and IGF-1. Our study corroborates previous findings of considerable inter-individual variability of cytokine- and growth factor content in ACS.

Lameness in dairy cows: farmer perceptions and automated detection technology.

This Research Reflection provides an overview of three interrelated topics: (i) lameness in dairy cows, demonstrating the underpinning importance of the condition, (ii) dairy farmer detection, diagnosis and treatment of lameness and associated foot lesions as well as dairy farmer perceptions towards the condition and (iii) lameness detection technologies, and their potential application on farm to automate the detection of lameness in commercial dairy herds. The presented literature clearly demonstrates that lameness is a major health issue in dairy herds, compromising dairy cow welfare and productivity, and resulting in significant economic implications for dairy farmers. Despite this, dairy farmers fail to perceive lameness as a serious threat to their dairy business. This restricted perception of the importance of lameness may be a product of limited ability to detect lame cows. Many automated lameness detection technologies have been proposed to assist dairy farmers in managing their herds. However, limitations such as cost, performance and dairy farmer perception of the usefulness of these technologies, has lead to poor uptake. It can, therefore, be concluded that there is a need to more thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies under on-farm conditions, potentially in the form of a demonstration farm network. This will allow generation of the necessary data required to show dairy farmers that these technologies are reliable and are economically rational for their dairy business.

Using Sensor Data to Detect Lameness and Mastitis Treatment Events in Dairy Cows: A Comparison of Classification Models.

The aim of this study was to develop classification models for mastitis and lameness treatments in Holstein dairy cows as the target variables based on continuous data from herd management software with modern machine learning methods. Data was collected over a period of 40 months from a total of 167 different cows with daily individual sensor information containing milking parameters, pedometer activity, feed and water intake, and body weight (in the form of differently aggregated data) as well as the entered treatment data. To identify the most important predictors for mastitis and lameness treatments, respectively, Random Forest feature importance, Pearson's correlation and sequential forward feature selection were applied. With the selected predictors, various machine learning models such as Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), Extra Trees Classifier (ET) and different ensemble methods such as Random Forest (RF) were trained. Their performance was compared using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) area-under-curve (AUC), as well as sensitivity, block sensitivity and specificity. In addition, sampling methods were compared: Over- and undersampling as compensation for the expected unbalanced training data had a high impact on the ratio of sensitivity and specificity in the classification of the test data, but with regard to AUC, random oversampling and SMOTE (Synthetic Minority Over-sampling) even showed significantly lower values than with non-sampled data. The best model, ET, obtained a mean AUC of 0.79 for mastitis and 0.71 for lameness, respectively, based on testing data from practical conditions and is recommended by us for this type of data, but GNB, LR and RF were only marginally worse, and random oversampling and SMOTE even showed significantly lower values than without sampling. We recommend the use of these models as a benchmark for similar self-learning classification tasks. The classification models presented here retain their interpretability with the ability to present feature importances to the farmer in contrast to the "black box" models of Deep Learning methods.

Better recovery from lameness among dairy cows housed in hospital pens.

Housing in hospital pens may be beneficial for lame cows due to soft flooring and less competition for resources. We compared recovery from lameness among dairy cows housed in designated hospital pens, with deep-litter straw, with recovery among cows housed together with the rest of the lactating cows in their home pens, with cubicles and slatted or solid concrete floors. Additionally, we compared lying behavior in the 2 groups of cows. A total of 168 lame dairy cows from 5 herds were included in the study. Each herd was visited once weekly, and lame cows (locomotion score 3 or 4 on a 5-point scale) were examined in a hoof-trimming chute, trimmed, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: housing in a hospital pen (termed "treatment"; 72 cows) or housing under the herds' standard conditions together with the rest of the lactating cows in the herd (termed "control"; 96 cows). Cows were locomotion scored weekly until they were no longer lame or until they had been part of the trial for 3 weeks (i.e., 2, 3, or 4 locomotion scorings per cow). We categorized cows to describe the progression of lameness over time: recovery (divided into fast, medium, or slow), improvement without recovery, constant lameness, or worsening of lameness. Lying behavior was recorded in a sample of 60 of the 168 cows for a period of 5 d. Overall, recovery from lameness was significantly different between treatment and control cows. The proportion of cows included in the study with locomotion score 4 and a subsequent improvement was significantly higher among treatment cows than among control cows. Among cows included with locomotion score 4, 40% of treatment cows also had a locomotion score 4 at the fourth locomotion scoring, 46% had improved to a score 3, and 14% were no longer lame. In comparison, 73% of control cows had a locomotion score 4 at the fourth locomotion scoring, 16% had improved to a score 3, and 11% were no longer lame. We found no differences between treatment and control cows for mean daily lying time, number of steps per day, number of daily lying bouts, or mean duration of lying bouts. Housing of lame dairy cows in a hospital pen with a soft surface, easier access to feed and water, a smaller group size, and reduced waiting time for milking may have positive effects on recovery from lameness. Typically, farmers have housed only severely lame cows in hospital pens. However, our results indicate that less severely lame cows may also benefit from a stay in a hospital pen.

A randomized blind placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on canine elbow osteoarthritis.

The effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) or sham light therapy on pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) requirement, and lameness was studied in 20 dogs with naturally occurring elbow osteoarthritis. Dogs (n = 20) were randomly assigned to receive either PBMT (group PBMT; n = 11) 10 to 20 J/cm2 or a placebo treatment (sham light group S; n = 9) treatment 0 J/cm2, to both elbows for 6 weeks. Lameness score, pain score, and NSAID dose were recorded by blinded study personnel before and 7 to 10 days after last treatment. Reduction in NSAID dose occurred in 9/11 dogs in the PBMT group, and in 0/9 of group S dogs (P = 0.0003). There was greater improvement in lameness score post PMBT versus S therapy (P = 0.001). A greater reduction in pain score was detected in 9/11 parameters in group PBMT (P < 0.05). Regularly scheduled PBMT at 10 to 20 J/cm2 per joint for 6 weeks was successful in improving lameness and pain scores, and in lowering NSAID requirement in canine elbow osteoarthritis patients.

Essai clinique randomisé à double insu examinant les effets de la thérapie par photobiomodulation (PBMT) en comparaison à un placebo pour le traitement de l'ostéoarthrite du coude canin. Les effets de la thérapie par photobiomodulation, PBMT (anciennement thérapie au laser froid, thérapie au laser de basse énergie, ou LLLT, abréviation anglaise) ont été évalués et comparés à un placebo lumineux chez 20 chiens souffrant d'ostéoarthrite bilatérale du coude. Les chiens (n = 20) ont été assignés aléatoirement au groupe recevant le traitement au laser (PBMT; n = 11), ou à celui recevant le traitement placebo (S; n = 9). Les deux groupes ont été traités à double insu pendant 6 semaines, recevant soit 10 à 20 J/cm2 (groupe PBMT) ou 0J/cm2 (S) pendant 3 à 5 minutes sur chaque coude. Avant (pré) et 7 à 10 jours après chaque traitement (post), la fréquence d'administration et le dosage d'anti-inflammatoire non stéroïdien (AINS), le degré de boiterie, évalué par un clinicien, ainsi que le degré de confort selon l'index d'Helsinki pour la douleur chronique, évalué par le propriétaire, ont été notés. Une réduction du besoin en AINS a été possible chez 9 des 11 chiens du groupe PBMT, tandis qu'aucun chien du groupe S n'a pu réduire sa consommation de médicament (P = 0,0003). Les grades de boiterie se sont améliorés de façon plus marquée chez le groupe PBMT que chez le groupe S (P = 0,001). Il en va de même pour l'index d'Helsinki chez le groupe PBMT pour lequel les propriétaires ont remarqué une amélioration du confort de leur animal pour 9 des 11 paramètres évalués (P < 0,05). Ces données suggèrent qu'un traitement au laser pour 6 semaines à un dosage de 10 à 20 J/cm2 a un effet bénéfique pour les chiens atteints d'ostéoarthrite bilatérale du coude en améliorant leur niveau de boiterie et de confort en plus de diminuer leur besoin en AINS.(Traduit par Dre Lauri Jo Gamble).

Effect of hoof trimmer intervention in moderately lame cows on lameness progression and milk yield.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of hoof trimmer intervention (HTI) in moderately lame cows on lameness progression and milk yield. Two freestall Holstein herds were enrolled. Cows were milked 2 (herd A: 2,374 cows) or 3 (herd B: 2,800 cows) times a day. Within each dairy, moderately lame cows [locomotion score (LS) = 3 on a 5-point scale] were randomly assigned to control group (CON; herd A = 66, herd B = 84) or treatment group (HTI; evaluated and treated by the hoof trimmer under researchers' supervision; herd A = 73; herd B = 75). Enrollment criteria were <350 d in milk, <180 d pregnant, >10 kg/d of milk yield, not selected for therapeutic trimming 2 mo before enrollment, and >14 observations of daily milk yield during the study period. Biweekly lameness scoring (LS ≤2, LS = 3, LS ≥4) was conducted up to 6 wk post-intervention. Lesion type and severity records were collected at intervention from HTI cows and up to 6 wk post-intervention from all enrolled cows identified as lame by farm employees. Daily milk yield data were collected from -1 to 6 wk relative to intervention using Afifarm (Afimilk Ltd., Kibbutz Afikim, Israel) records. No treatment effect was detected on the predicted probability of locomotion score, but the predicted probability of LS ≥3 decreased over time in herd B, whereas in herd A, it initially decreased but later increased. A tendency for a treatment by time interaction was observed in herd A; at 2 wk post-intervention, the predicted probability for LS ≥3 was higher for HTI (0.69) than for CON (0.43), but similar at 4 wk (0.41 HTI, 0.49 CON) and 6 wk (0.77 HTI, 0.73 CON). At intervention, most study cows had no lesions (41.2%), sole hemorrhages (28.4%), thin soles (8.8%), or vertical fissure (6.8%). During the 6 wk following intervention, a similar proportion of cows were identified as lame in CON (8.7%) and HTI (6.7%) groups. In herd A, milk yield (least squares means ± standard error) was similar for CON (42.0 ± 0.77 kg/d) and HTI (42.3 ± 0.75 kg/d) cows, whereas in herd B, it tended to be lower for HTI (43.7 ± 0.61 kg/d) than for CON (45.2 ± 0.59 kg/d) cows. A significant effect of time was detected on both dairies, with milk yield decreasing over the study period. In our study, implementing HTI on moderately lame cows resulted in no improvement in gait or milk yield. The low presence of severe lesions amenable to therapy may partially explain our findings.

Novel spatiotemporal analysis of gait changes in body weight supported treadmill trained rats following cervical spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Common gait measures such as stride length, cycle time, and step height are not independent variables, but different aspects of the same multidimensional step. This complicates comparisons between experimental groups. Here we present a novel multidimensional gait analysis method and use this method to assess the ability of body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) to improve rodent stepping after spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: In lieu of reducing a step to a collection of gait measures and comparing the means of several of these, we developed a multidimensional analysis technique that compares the step as a whole. While in a passive robotic gait training device, the pre-injury hindlimb stepping of 108 rats was recorded while they walked in a quadrupedal posture at 8 cm/s. Following a C4/5 over-hemisection spinal cord injury the weekly changes in stepping were tracked for 17 untrained and 10 BWSTT animals for 7 weeks. The performance of trained rats was recorded during training with BWS, as well as at the end of the training week without BWS. An additional six uninjured rats were trained for 5 weeks. RESULTS: Our novel multidimensional analysis shows that stepping is asymmetrically altered 1 week after SCI. The differences in stepping change over the following weeks, with the less impaired left hindlimb deviating further away from pre-injury than the more impaired right hindlimb. Uninjured rats do not significantly alter their stepping over 5 weeks. BWSTT improves the stepping of the right hindlimb, but only when the BWS is active. If the BWS is not present, the performance of trained animals is worse than untrained rats. The left hindlimb performance of BWSTT rats is worse than untrained rats, during both training sessions and weekly assessments. CONCLUSIONS: We feel that our novel multidimensional analysis is a more appropriate method to address the inter-dependencies of gait measures. Untrained rats exhibit both initial impairments as well as the development of compensatory techniques. BWSTT does not improve this spontaneous recovery, but exacerbates it, particularly in the less impaired left hindlimb.

A pilot study of the effects of acupuncture treatment on objective and subjective gait parameters in horses.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether acupuncture can alter gait in horses as assessed by objective and subjective parameters. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, singleblinded, crossover study. ANIMALS: Eight adult horses. METHODS: Horses were randomly assigned to a treatment (three acupuncture treatments in 8 days) or control group. Subjective and objective gait analyses were performed before and after each treatment and at 1, 3 and 7 days after the last treatment (time-points 1-9, respectively). Horses were assessed at the trot in a straight line on a hard surface and on the lunge on the left and right reins on a soft surface (conditions 1-3, respectively). After 12 weeks, groups were reversed. Objective gait analysis was performed using inertial sensors and subjective analysis by two board- certified surgeons who reviewed video-recordings. Each limb was assessed for lameness before and after treatment. Lameness and global scores were assigned using 4-point scales. Assessors were blinded to treatment status. The effects of treatment (yes/no), time (1-9) and horse under conditions 1 -3 were compared using a linear mixed-effects model and a generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: Treatment decreased hip hike difference under all conditions [condition 1: control, 6.3 ± 6.4 mm versus treatment, -0.2 ± 6.4 mm (p = 0.007); condition 2: control, 9.7 ± 7.8 mm versus treatment, 2.8 ± 7.8 mm (p = 0.032); condition 3: control, 7.3 ± 6.3 mm versus treatment, -2.7 ± 6.4 mm (p = 0.003)]. Other parameters also improved significantly under conditions 1 and 3. Based on subjective gait analysis, treatment decreased lameness [odds ratio (OR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.78; p = 0.002] but not global (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.24-1.10; p = 0.12) scores. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Acupuncture can change horses' gaits to a degree appreciable by objective and subjective analyses.

Response to acupuncture treatment in horses with chronic laminitis.

There is a need for evidence-based scientific research to address the question of the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving clinical signs of laminitis in horses. The objective of this study was to compare lameness levels before and after 2 acupuncture treatments in horses with chronic laminitis. Twelve adult horses with chronic laminitis received 2 acupuncture treatments 1 week apart. The points were treated using dry needling, hemo-acupuncture, and aqua-acupuncture. Lameness level was objectively evaluated using an inertial sensor-based lameness evaluation system (Lameness Locator), as well as routine examinations following American Association of Equine Practitioners scoring before the first and 1 week after the second acupuncture treatment. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Both the Lameness Locator (P = 0.0269) and routine lameness examination (P = 0.0039) showed a significant reduction in lameness severity. Our results support using acupuncture, along with other treatment options, in treating chronic equine laminitis.

Réponse à un traitement à l'acupuncture chez des chevaux atteints de laminite chronique. Il existe un besoin de recherche scientifique factuelle afin d'aborder la question de l'efficacité de l'acupuncture pour améliorer les signes cliniques de la laminite chez les chevaux. L'objectif de cette étude consistait à comparer les niveaux de boiterie avant et après deux traitements d'acupuncture chez des chevaux atteints de laminite chronique. Douze chevaux adultes souffrant de laminite chronique ont reçu deux traitements d'acupuncture à 1 semaine d'intervalle. Les points ont été traités en utilisant des aiguilles, l'hémo-acupuncture et l'aqua-acupuncture. Le niveau de boiterie a été évalué objectivement en utilisant un système inertiel d'évaluation de la boiterie à base de sonde (repérage de la boiterie) ainsi qu'à l'aide d'examens de routine en se basant sur la notation de l'American Association of Equine Practitioners avant le premier traitement et 1 semaine après le deuxième traitement d'acupuncture. Les données ont été analysées en utilisant les tests de rang signés de Wilcoxon et des valeurs P < 0,05 étaient considérées comme étant significatives sur le plan statistique. Le repérage de la boiterie (P = 0,0269) et l'examen de routine de la boiterie (P = 0,0039) ont montré une réduction significative de la gravité de la boiterie. Nos résultats appuient l'utilisation de l'acupuncture, conjointement à d'autres options de traitement, pour traiter la laminite équine chronique.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Semitendinosus myopathy and treatment with adipose-derived stem cells in working German shepherd police dogs.

Semitendinosus myopathy has been treated with numerous surgical and non-surgical therapies resulting in recurrence of lameness within 2 to 9 months. Eleven cases of semitendinosus myopathy diagnosed in 8 working police dogs that were treated with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells were retrospectively evaluated. At short-term follow-up < 6 mo, ultrasound and gait evaluations revealed a mean reduction in the overall intramuscular lesion size of 54.82% (SD +/- 18.02; range: 30.5% to 82.7%) and reduction in the Visual Assessment Score (VAS) of 1 to 3 points. At long-term follow-up > 1 y, in 8 cases the dogs had a normal gait and in 3 cases the dogs had an improved gait compared with initial examination, and all 8 dogs returned to active police work. Fisher's exact test resulted in P = 0.000008 when comparing published historical reports and these 11 cases for resolution of lameness and return to active duty.

Myopathie du muscle semi-tendineux et traitement à l'aide de cellules souches adipeuses chez des chiens policiers Bergers allemands. La myopathie du muscle semi-tendineux a été traitée à l'aide de nombreuses thérapies chirurgicales et non chirurgicales qui ont produit une récurrence de la boiterie dans un délai de 2 à 9 mois. Onze cas de myopathie du muscle semi-tendineux diagnostiqués chez 8 chiens policiers qui avaient été traités à l'aide de cellules souches mésenchymateuses adipeuses ont été évalués rétrospectivement. Au suivi à court terme de < 6 mois, les évaluations de l'échographie et de la démarche ont révélé une réduction moyenne de la taille de la lésion intramusculaire totale de 54,82 % (SD +/− 18,02; écart : de 30,5 % à 82,7 %) et une réduction de la note d'évaluation visuelle (NÉV) de 1 à 3 points. Au suivi à long terme de > 1 an, 8 cas avaient une démarche normale et 3 avaient une démarche améliorée comparativement à l'examen initial et les 8 chiens sont retournés au travail policier actif. La méthode exacte de Fisher s'est traduite par un résultat de P = 0,000008 lors de la comparaison avec des rapports historiques publiés et ces 11 cas de résolution de boiterie et de retour au service actif.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Pain Management in Horses.

There has been great progress in the understanding of basic neurobiologic mechanisms of pain, but this body of knowledge has not yet translated into new and improved analgesics. Progress has been made regarding pain assessment in horses, but more work is needed until sensitive and accurate pain assessment tools are available for use in clinical practice. This review summarizes and updates the knowledge concerning the cornerstones of pain medicine (understand, assess, prevent, and treat). It highlights the importance of understanding pain mechanisms and expressions to enable a rational approach to pain assessment, prevention, and management in the equine patient.